Improvement in the processes of taking photographic pictures



Patented June 30,1874.

N.PETER5. PHOTD-LITHOGRAFNER, WASHINGTCN, D

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE NATHAEIIEL NVE STON, OF SAN FRI NCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROCESSES 0F TAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,71 3, dated June 30, 1874; application filed July 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL WESTON, of San Francisco city and county, State of California, have invented Improvements in Photographs; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawin gs are sufiicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvement without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to improvements in printing photographic pictures, by which I not only produce a new style of photograph, but by a tasteful arrangement of the surroundings of the photographic figure I render the picture more attractive than the plain pictures.

The chief peculiarity of my improved photograph consists in the employment of a sealloped border or mat, inside of which the main figure is printed. It also consists in the manner of printing, either within or without this scalloped border, one or more smaller photographs, figures, or designs, by which the card is given a neat and tasteful appearance.

Referring to the photograph accompanying this specification, A represents the central figure or main photograph. B represents a scalloped border or mat surrounding the figure A. 0 represents a figure which is printed inside of the scalloped mat.

The picture which is intended to form the central figure is first photographed in a negative form, and then transferred to the sensitized paper. To do this I cut an opening of the desired size on a piece of stifi? card-board and cover the opening on the outside with a piece of tissue-paper, while the negative is placed upon the opposite side of the cardboard with the picture opposite the opening. the chemical side being toward the sensitized paper. The sensitized paper is then placed upon the negative, and the central figure is printed by exposing it to the light in the usual way of vignetting the picture by blending the figure with the background. After the central figure has been printed, I take a card-board which has previously been cut out with scalloped edges into the desired shape to form the border or mat of the picture, and place it upon the sensitized paper in such a manner that the printed image will be in its proper position. The designs, figures, or characters which it is desired to print inside of the border having been previously pasted upon a piece of glass, I take a piece of cardboard and cut out an opening at the proper places to allow the pictures, figures, designs, or characters to come opposite them when the glass is laid upon it, and this I place over the picture so as to print directly from the pasted figure upon the sensitized paper covering the center figure until the printing is of the desired shade. Stars, shields, flags, eagles, horses, or small views of human heads can thus be printed upon the picture in any style of arrangement it may be desired to place them, thus giving to the photograph a unique and striking yet handsome appearance. The portion of the figure outside of the border can then be tinted by covering the center portion and exposing to the light. This arrangement of photographs will be especially adapted to the style of printing which is known as floating photographs, in which the vignette is so blended with the color of the background as to give it the appearance of floating. The scalloped border can be made in any desired form, and two or more scalloped ovals can be arranged concentrically so as to encompass one solitary figure, or two or more can be used on the same card, each one surrounding a separate figure. The scalloped edges of the border give to the picture a neat and attractive appearance. A beautiful scalloped mourning border can be printed upon a card by employing double scalloped mats. Photographed card-mounts can also be prepared with my oval border, having any number of figures, syi'nbols, or designs printed in them, and an oval or other space left at the desired point, so that the photographic picture after being printed can be pasted in it. The oval space should also be surrounded with a scalloped border. In this class of pietures a very beautiful effect will be obtained by first pasting upon the mount a sheet of colored paper, and then cutting out from the ox'erlying photographed sheet figures or designs, so that the figure or design will be seen having the color of the underlying colored sheet.

I am aware that double printing from negatives has been long in use. This, therefore, I do not claim. I am also aware that pictures have been printed from photographic negatives inside of a leaf or other figure, such as a heart.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of mats, nor the printing of the secondary figures, as this has been done by means of writing, drawing, and painting designs on glass. I paste the design upon the glass and print directly from the pasted figure upon the sensitized paper.

II-avin g thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The process herein described for printing secondary figures on photographic cards, consisting essentially of the employment of independent pictures applied to the negative, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

NATHANIEL WES'IOX. [L. s]

Witnesses:

JOHN L. BOONE, C. M. RICHARDSON. 

